It’s Time To Be Brave: Overcome Your Phobia

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Everyone is scared of something, or so they say. You may have a fear of enclosed spaces, spiders, snakes, water, pigeons or the doctor’s surgery. Whatever it is, it may appear totally irrational to those closest to you, but to you, it is a hindrance and a major dampener on your everyday life. You may not even know why you have come to have a phobia of something. Speak to any psychiatrist, and they will tell you that it must have originated from an event in your past which is now buried deep in your subconscious. Whatever the reason for your fear, you can still overcome it and lead a more positive life.

You may take one look at a spider to recoil in horror, experience heart palpitations and scream in terror. However, there are ways that you can walk into a room with a spider sat in the corner and not leap onto a chair to escape its eight-legged grasp. While you might not ever be best buddies with an arachnid, you can overcome your fear enough so that it doesn’t impact on your day to day existence. Take a look at these common phobias and how you can overcome them.

Teeth

While a fear of teeth isn’t massively popular, a fear of the dentist’s chair is. Aptly named dentophobia, you may shudder at the sound of the drill, the smell of the surgery and the vibe of the waiting room. However, you needn’t. It pays to get your teeth checked every six months just for a clean if nothing else. Don’t wait for your teeth to hurt until you go reluctantly in an emergency.

Seek out a dentist that specialises in treating those people who are nervous. The first few times you head to the dentist, you may not even have any treatment. You can simply get used to the atmosphere, maybe sit in the chair and chat to the staff there. Any dentist should tell you exactly what they are doing and when they are doing it. You will get a vibe from an individual so opt for the dentist that you feel most comfortable with.

Flight

A fear of flying is becoming more common as transatlantic travel is now becoming more popular and accessible to all. Some people who never had a fear of flying in their youth can all of a sudden develop a phobia. This might be because you have recently become a parent and you’re scared of leaving them without a mom or dad, it might be because you haven’t flown for a little while, or it could be the effect of a high profile media story about a plane crash.

This phobia is a logical one. How can a heavy tube of metal stay in the air? The fact is you have more chance of winning the lottery than being in a plane crash. That doesn’t help the fear though. Head to a course run by one of the many airlines based at an airport local to you, and meet pilots and flight crew. They will take you through the technical aspects of flying, explain turbulence and tell you about their twenty five years experience without having to endure any sort of emergency landing. At the end of this fear of flying course, you’ll get to head out on a short flight, hopefully feeling more positive and excited at the prospect of air travel.

Animals

You may be scared of spiders or moths. Or perhaps you fear a creature a little more unusual like birds or cats. The chances of you coming into contact with this sort of wildlife on a daily basis is quite common and can have a detrimental impact on your health. You need to get a handle on the phobia before it takes over your life.

The chances are that you may have had a parent with a phobia which has rubbed off on you. Or maybe you had a traumatic experience with an animal as a youngster. To combat this fear, you will need professional help. Head to a hypnotherapist or phobia specialist who will slowly tap into your fear, why you have it and recondition your brain to think about it in a different way. Often it only takes one session before you are sat next to a tarantula and asking to have a go at holding it. While this may sound unbelievable, if you go with an open mind and you’re willing to tackle your fear head on, a hypnotherapist can work wonders.

Having a fear or a phobia will have a negative impact on your life. It may prevent you from travelling, or going out with friends or enjoying social situations. To take back control, follow this guide and banish your phobia forever.